Old Sleningford Farm and Forest Gardening

I have become interested in Forest Gardening and after reading Patrick Whitefield's excellent book, decided to go on a course at Old Sleningford Farm near Ripon, Yorkshire. http://www.oldsleningford.co.uk/

Cherry plum blossom

A forest garden is modelled on nature and has three layers; a tree layer made up of fruit and nut trees, a shrub layer made up of soft fruit and nut bushes and a herbaceous layer made up of perennial vegetables and herbs, annual vegetables are included where they are self-seeding.

The idea is to work with nature for a maximum output with minimum input. The output is usually food for humans, animals and insects but can include medicine, dyes, craft materials and fuel.

The forest garden at Old Sleningford has been planted in stages and the oldest part is now in its fifth year. Over 100 fruit and nut trees have been planted so far, along with fruit bushes, the ground cover is a huge strawberry bed with some herbs.

As Ripon is a long way from Argyll I was able to volunteer for a couple of weeks and work with the lovely people there and get to know the forest garden which was already cropping loads of rhubarb!

Whilst volunteering I helped complete a willow bird hyde.

Weed raised beds - separate from the forest garden.

Weed and mulch around some of the trees.

Help staple wire to fence posts!! This was to support raspberries.

Old Slenginford Farm is a permaculture project with lots of different things going on including an orchard with chickens

A brilliant pizza oven which can cook a pizza in seconds.

On the first Sunday of each month the Farm has a volunteer day allowing visitors the opportunity to help and meet up. It was great to meet new people, exchange ideas. The time flew by whilst barrowing horse poo and mulching with straw!

All in all it was a great experience, a great course and great people, well worth the trip.